Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10
Cast: Neil Dudgeon, Gwilym Lee, Tamzin Malleson, Robert Bathurst, Phil Cornwell, Bernard Cribbins, Pete Meads, Jacqueline King, John Duggan, Scarlett Alice Johnson, Lee Nicholas Harris, John W.G. Harley, Susan Fordham, Lucy Phelps, Chris Nighingale, Martyn Mayger, Barrie Martin, June Whitefield, Geoffrey Whitehead, Sara Stewart, Lex Shrapnel, Laila Rouass, Oliver Rix, Francesca Zoulewelle.
For many the past is never too far from their minds. It is what has shaped them into who they are. The past should never be truly be forgotten either as it by that assumption that the mistakes, the often to terrible to contemplate mistakes, come back to haunt you.
For the members of the local flying club looked after by the Darnley family, an airfield that is steeped into the fabric of World War Two and Molly Darnley especially, a rather beautiful portrayal by the Grand Dame of television June Whitfield, murder comes to pay a call and the loss of control for some, the bricked up memories that surround the case are still too raw to contemplate.
There were, as ever, some great personal performances within the programme but with the great June Whitfield, Sara Stewart, Phil Cornwell and ever loveable Bernard Cribbins having prominent roles within the mystery there could have been a few doubts lingering that perhaps there would be be any room for the ensemble to grow and the story become a vehicle for great writing. This episode, the 99th in the long running drama, though flew above the problem of having a cast that a viewer wants to love and unlike Icarus, took note of the lofty heights attainable and gave this series the timely reminder of the history within the show.
Whilst the programme depends greatly on the relationship between the ever intriguing and unflappable Neil Dudgeon and his new co-star Gwilym Lee, there was time for growth in the area of pathologist Kate Wilding, portrayed by the superb Tamzin Malleson. For too long this attention-grabbing character has been reduced to the same level of back ground interest that befell Clare Holman for many years in both Morse and then Lewis, only coming to prominence when the time came for romance in the latter’s advancing years. Tamzin Malleson, aided by Gwilym Lee since his introduction to the long running drama and in this episode by her on screen parents, the criminally underused Geoffrey Whitehead and Jacqueline King has become more central to the programme. It can only be hoped that the makers of Midsomer Murders notice the effect this talented actor has on the dynamic of the programme as she is as needed to bring some female perspective, in the same way as Fiona Dolman accomplishes, to the show.
With the 100th episode just around the corner, the landmark that Midsomer Murders has attained is nothing short of incredible and a testament to the longevity that can be attained when faith in a programme and a great central cast are available.
Ian D. Hall